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Spokesperson for former President John Mahama has said the government ought to admit that its militarisation of the fight against illegal mining has failed.

Joyce Bawa Mogtari told Joy News Monday, the Akufo-Addo government will do well to consult his boss on the fight against illegal mining instead of attacking him.

Her boss has come under a barrage of attack over what the NPP has described as his "repugnant" comments that appear to back the illegal miners.

Illegal mining also known as 'galamsey' is believed to have spiralled out of control under Mahama administration from 2013 to 2016.
 
The Akufo-Addo government after winning power put boots on the ground in July 2017 after several warning to the illegal miners to stop the menace.

Illegal mining, the source of Ghana's greatest degradation of the environment includes several Asians and West Africans who have left water bodies unusable in communities.

But at an NDC program in Ashanti region last Saturday, former President Mahama claimed the government was clamping down on the illegal miners without offering any livelihood package.

 
"When there is nothing to do and you are just chasing and shooting them, that is not the way to go,”  he told his supporters at a Unity Walk in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.

The government has said it will employ the illegal miners in an afforestation plan to reclaim destroyed lands.
He said the militarisation of the fight against 'galamsey' has led to a needless loss of life. 

But Mahama's pro-galamsey comments have drawn condemnation from the NPP which has branded the former President as a desperate politician.
 
Lands and Natural Resources minister John Peter Amewu who has been hailed for his efforts in addressing the menace, described Mahama as a 'con man'.

Responding to the criticisms, Joyce Bawa Mogtari said government's reaction smacks of Mahamaphobia.

"I detect a certain phobia and paranoia for all comments made by former President Mahama"  Joyce Bawa Mogtari  told Joy News.
 
"...the sort of noises that are being made are a clear indication that former President Mahama has touched on a sore point".

The former President's comments, his spokesperson Joyce Bawa Mogtari said, were from an informed point of view as one who is experienced enough to know, a military strategy won't work.

"Who better than the immediate past president of this country to seek to proffer solutions having learnt from experience he knows that the taskforce option doesn't work?"

The spokesperson expressed surprise that the NPP, which was highly critical of the Mahama government, does not appear to have the stomach for "constructive criticism".

She said the Mahama government was severely lampooned by the then opposition NPP "even things that were good and positive received great criticism"

She said there is no need for John Mahama to apologise because his comments did not include any insults or invectives.

She would rather expect the Lands and Natural minister John Peter Amewu to apologise for his "most unfortunate" description of the former leader.